TUESDAY, July 13, 2010 — Gail Grabowski

Theme: Utopia — Theme answers end with words for perfect places.


Theme answers:

• 17A: "I Dream of Jeannie" star (BARBARA EDEN).
• 28A: WWII aircraft carrier nicknamed "Tokyo Express" (USS SHANGRILA).
• 44A: 1928 #1 song heard in a 1990 Steve Martin film of the same name (MY BLUE HEAVEN).
• 58A: Narrator in Kerouac's "On the Road" (SAL PARADISE).

It seems like I've seen this theme before, but a quick scan through the database only shows one CrosSynergy puzzle from 2006. And today's puzzle is better so we're just going to focus on that! I think this is a perfect Tuesday puzzle. Not a lot of crosswordese, but plenty of easy stuff to get a foothold. The cluing is straightforward and there's nothing super super sparkly about the fill, but there are a few things you don't see every day that liven up the grid a little. Like, CHIRP and DINGO and MOSEY. Aaaand.... That's as far as I got last night before I decided I'd finish up in the morning. Then when I woke up we had no power. It finally just came back on but it's time for me to get the kids to camp and myself to work, so this is the best I can do for you today.Why don't you all go ahead and chat it up in the comments!

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Sells for (COSTS); 6A: In any way, shape or form (AT ALL); 11A: Word with legal or lily (PAD); 14A: Fur tycoon John Jacob (ASTOR); 15A: Wild Australian dog (DINGO); 16A: Census datum (AGE); 19A: CD-__ (ROM); 20A: Flu-like symptom (AGUE); 21A: Lifesaving technique: Abbr. (CPR); 22A: Slangy starting point (GIT GO); 24A: "Dig in!" ("LET'S EAT!"); 26A: Bike without pedaling (COAST); 32A: Cricket call (CHIRP); 35A: Type of sax (ALTO); 36A: Steamed up (MAD); 37A: Solitary (LONE); 38A: Mag with a "Bachelor of the Year" contest (COSMO); 40A: Libraries do it (LEND); 41A: Menu catchphrase (A LA); 42A: Crate component (SLAT); 43A: Merchandise (WARES); 48A: Sequence with a Y, sometimes (AEIOU); 49A: Spouse's resigned assent (YES DEAR); 53A: Taxpayer's dread (AUDIT); 55A: Take in, as a movie (SEE); 56A: Ultimatum end (ELSE); 57A: Incidentally, in online shorthand (BTW); 62A: Plea from a lea (MAA); 63A: Walk leisurely (MOSEY); 64A: Scammed (HOSED); 65A: Inclined to avoid the spotlight (SHY); 66A: Give the slip (ELUDE); 67A: Unable to sit still (ANTSY); 1D: Conspiring group (CABAL); 2D: Oklahoma native (OSAGE); 3D: Pompous gait (STRUT); 4D: "Without a doubt!" ("TO BE SURE!"); 5D: Mme. in Madrid (SRA.); 6D: Copes with change (ADAPTS); 7D: Wedding cake layer (TIER); 8D: "Furthermore ..." ("AND …"); 9D: Part of XL: Abbr. (LGE.); 10D: In olden days (LONG AGO); 11D: Many a McDonald's worker (PART-TIMER); 12D: Psyched up (AGOG); 13D: Test-driven car (DEMO); 18D: Some HDTVs (RCAS); 23D: Jerusalem is its cap. (ISR.); 25D: Eerie ability, briefly (ESP); 26D: Pre-storm period (CALM); 27D: Savvy about (ONTO); 29D: Too big a hurry (HASTE); 30D: Co-worker of Kent and Olsen (LANE); 31D: Mixes in (ADDS); 32D: Be silent, with "up" (CLAM); 33D: Fit for sainthood (HOLY); 34D: Really hurting (IN A BAD WAY); 38D: Egyptian played by Liz (CLEO); 39D: Diamond Head's island (OAHU); 40D: Stopped at, as a board game square (LANDED ON); 42D: "Sounds good" ("SUITS ME"); 43D: "Scream" director Craven (WES); 45D: Luau wreath (LEI); 46D: Salt's assent (AYE AYE); 47D: Avoid a pothole, say (VEER); 50D: Mass-mailing tool (E-LIST); 51D: Pompous types (ASSES); 52D: Like a bassoon's sound (REEDY); 53D: Aerial defense weapons, for short (ABM'S); 54D: Bryce Canyon's state (UTAH); 55D: Exceeded the limit (SPED); 59D: IM provider (AOL); 60D: Baton Rouge sch. (LSU); 61D: "Solved it!" ("AHA!").